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National and international spillovers from R&D: Comparing a neoclassical and an endogenous growth approach

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Abstract

National and International Spillovers from R&D: Comparing a Neoclassical and an Endogenous Growth Approach.— Two models where productivity growth is caused by spillovers from R&D are analyzed using a sample of nine manufacturing industries in six large OECD countries between 1979 and 1991. The first model is based on traditional productivity analysis, the second model on the endogenous growth theory. The empirical results indicate stronger support for the latter. The results suggest that spillovers from R&D exist within industries, both nationally and internationally, confined to industries that are relatively R&D-intensive. There is, however, little evidence of spillovers between industries. Finally, FDIs seem to facilitate the diffusion of R&D results, but the authors do not find any effect on growth from R&D embodied in intermediate products. JEL no. O32, O40

Zusammenfassung:

Nationale und internationale Spillovers von Forschung und Entwicklung (F&E): Vergleich eines neoklassischen Ansatzes mit einem Ansatz des endogenen Wachstums.— Die Verfasser untersuchen zwei Modelle, in denen das Produktivitätswachstum durch Spillovers von F&E verursacht wird, und benutzen dafür eine Auswahl von neun gewerblichen Industrien in sechs großen OECD-Ländern zwischen 1979 und 1991. Das erste Modell beruht auf der traditionellen Produktivitäts-analyse, das zweite auf der Theorie des endogenen Wachstums. Die empirischen Ergebnisse stützen eher das zweite. Sie deuten darauf hin, daß Spillovers von F&E sowohl national als auch international innerhalb von Industriezweigen bestehen, und zwar beschränkt auf Industrien, die relativ F&E-intensiv sind. Es gibt jedoch kaum Anzeichen für Spillovers zwischen Industriezweigen. Schließlich scheinen ausländische Direktinvestitionen die Verbreitung von F&E-Ergebnissen zu erleichtern, aber die Verfasser finden keinerlei Wirkungen auf das Wachstum durch F&E, die in intermediären Gütern verkörpert sind.

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Remark: We thank Richard Baldwin, Magnus Blomström, Rikard Forslid, Steven Globerman, Ari Kokko, and Bo Södersten for valuable comments. Financial support from the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation and from the Swedish Council for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences are gratefully acknowledged.

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Braconier, H., Sjöholm, F. National and international spillovers from R&D: Comparing a neoclassical and an endogenous growth approach. Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv 134, 638–663 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773291

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